Dr. Tomoko Aoyama is an Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Languages and Cultures , The University of Queensland , with a focus on Japanese literature, cultural studies, and translation. Her research bridges gender, humor, and food studies within modern and contemporary Japanese contexts. Education: PhD in Japanese Literature, The University of Queensland (1992). Research Themes include gender dynamics , humor in Japanese texts , food as cultural metaphor , and translation studies . She explores these through works like The Stripper Goddess of Japan (2023) and analyses of authors such as Itō Hiromi and Kanai Mieko. Publication Trends highlight her contributions to gender studies (e.g., LGBTQ+ themes in Yoshinaga Fumi's manga), food in literature (e.g., culinary metaphors in post-war narratives), and cultural hybridity (e.g., cross-border themes in Japanese-Australian collaborations).
Professor Hugh Cheape is a Course Leader at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI , the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. He lectures at both Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Edinburgh University, drawing from a career as Principal Curator in the Department of Scotland and Europe at National Museums of Scotland. Academic Rank: Professor Teaching: MSc Cultar Dùthchasach agus Eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd (Gaelic Cultural and Historical Studies) External Role: Lecturer, University of Edinburgh (Postgraduate Certificate in Scottish Culture and Heritage) Research Interests span ethnology , musicology , and material culture . His work focuses on Scottish agricultural history, vernacular architecture, piping traditions, tartans, and talismanic beliefs. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through cultural preservation initiatives. Key Themes: Cultural heritage, historical continuity, linguistic communities, maritime identity, and sustainable practices Recent Publications: Explore Hebridean plough types, maritime environmental campaigns, and island cultural heritage Scientific Awards: RSE Fellow (2023), recognizing contributions to Scottish cultural scholarship Collaborations include partnerships with the School of Scottish Studies and the University of Edinburgh. His work bridges academic research with public engagement through the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches digitization project.
Yiyue Luo is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (UW ECE). She leads the Wearable Intelligence Lab, focusing on integrating digital fabrication, human-robot interaction, and applied AI to develop smart textiles for physical task guidance.
Anne-Caroline Sieffert is a Lecturer in Romance Languages and Literatures at Binghamton University (SUNY system), where she teaches French language courses and specialized content courses. Originally from Strasbourg, France, she has taught at multiple institutions including Syracuse University, Brown University, Montclair State University, the College of Staten Island, Cornell University, and Ohio Wesleyan. Her educational background includes a BA and MA in History from the University of Strasbourg, an MA in Literature, Language and Linguistics from Syracuse University, and a PhD in French Studies from Brown University. Her research focuses on gender studies, the history of photography, mental health and neurodivergence, and the construction of racial categories in the 19th century. Sieffert's scholarly work centers on women and minorities in France from the mid-19th to mid-20th century, with particular emphasis on travel literature and the construction of gender through women-authored travel journals. Her dissertation, 'The Good Woman Abroad: Female Travel and French Citizenhood, 1860-1910,' examines how upper-class women traveling to the Maghreb and North America challenged traditional frameworks of femininity in the 19th century. Her recent publications and creative work show a consistent focus on how material culture, overconsumption, mass marketing, and capitalism transformed notions of gender and race during the long 19th century. Through her podcast 'The Transatlantic Notebook,' she explores the intersections of science in pop culture and the construction of race and gender in historical contexts. Graduate Student Contribution to Community Life Award, 2016 Nominated, The K Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, 2014 Foundation Award for Service to the LGBTQ Community, Syracuse University, 2009 Beyond her formal teaching, Sieffert is passionate about mentoring students, creating inclusive classroom environments, and making education accessible. She has developed numerous syllabi with cost-conscious materials for students on financial aid. She is also an enthusiastic collector of Kodak cameras (over 60 spanning from the late 19th century to the 1980s), which informs her research on the intersection of popular culture, engineering ingenuity, and visual studies.
Miroslava Gašparová is a Lecturer at the Pedagogical Faculty of Matej Bel University , Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. She works in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, focusing on curriculum integration, cultural heritage, and educational technology in primary education. Her contact details include office locations C 214 and A 107, with consulting hours by prior arrangement via email. Current project: Creation of educational materials for Slovak language teaching (2024-2026) Project: Enhancing teacher preparation through integrated curricula (2021) Project: Art interpretation in pre-primary education (2019-2021) Her research emphasizes: Integration of technical education with natural/social sciences Regional education content in early childhood curricula Digital technology applications in primary textbooks Interdisciplinary approaches to cultural heritage preservation Project-based learning methodologies for distance education Development of national identity through regional studies Recent publications show trends toward: Integrated regional and cultural content in primary textbooks Combining technical and environmental education Enhancing digital literacy through curriculum design Experiential learning models for early childhood Preservation of Slovak identity abroad through education Active life skills development from childhood Her professional work includes: Designing teacher training programs Curriculum development for primary education Regional content integration across subjects Collaborative educational material creation Distance education methodology research
Neil Reeves is a Professor of Secure Health Technologies at Lancaster University's Medical School. His work bridges digital health technologies and cybersecurity , focusing on diabetic foot ulcer prevention and gait improvement through smart medical devices. First proof-of-concept clinical trial on smart pressure-sensing insoles (Lancet Digital Health) Early clinical trial on vibrating insoles for balance improvement (Diabetes Care) EPSRC-funded Socksess project developing smart-sensing socks Co-developed FootSnap-AI app with Prof. Moi Hoon Yap Research spans AI-driven wearable technologies , medical device cybersecurity , and biomechanical interventions for chronic disease management. Recent publications focus on chronic wound segmentation , strain sensors , and plantar stress analysis . Scientific awards include the Oracle Innovator Accelerator Grant . He serves on international funding panels (EPSRC, NIH) and journal editorial boards (Gerontology, European Journal of Sport Science).
Mallory Weston is an Associate Professor in the Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM department at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University. She combines traditional jewelry and metalsmithing with textile techniques and computer-aided design to create large-scale wearable art. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (MFA, 2013) and The University of the Arts (BFA, 2009), she maintains an active studio practice as part of the JV Collective, a national art jewelry group. Education MFA, Rhode Island School of Design, 2013 BFA, The University of the Arts, 2009 Her research explores hybrid methodologies in craft, focusing on the intersection of analog processes and digital design. She is deeply involved in curatorial projects and international collaborations, bridging art jewelry with broader artistic platforms. Weston’s work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions globally, including at the Baltimore Jewelry Center, Sienna Patti Contemporary, and the RISD Museum. Her pieces are held in prestigious collections such as the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Dallas Museum of Art, and Design Museum den Bosch (Netherlands). Scientific Awards Art Jewelry Forum Young Artist Award (2022) Studio Rian de Jong Artist in Residence (2019) Open Studio Residency at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (2017) MAD Artist Studios Residency (2016)
Henrik Widmark is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Art History, Uppsala University, specializing in urban cultures, architectural history, and cultural heritage. His research explores the intersection of materiality, identity, and urban transformation. Affiliation : Department of Art History, Uppsala University Roles : Former research leader for The Good City, coordinator for the Forum for Research on Church Cultural Heritage Research Interests : Henrik focuses on urban identities shaped through architecture, subcultures, and historical narratives. His work spans topics like fascist symbolism in Rome, digital education frameworks, and the role of religious spaces in multicultural societies. Scientific Awards : None listed in the provided text.
Daniel Lee Ashbrook is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen (DIKU). He specializes in Human-Centred Computing, focusing on tangible user interfaces, wearable technology, and computational fabrication. His work bridges hardware innovation with practical applications in interactive design. Research Themes : Embedded sensors, 3D-printed interactive systems, pneumatic computing, and accessible fabrication tools. Collaborations : Regularly works with researchers like Victor Savage and Hyeon-Jeong Kim on novel interface technologies. Recent publications highlight advancements in tactile feedback systems, multi-material fabrication, and sensor integration in everyday objects. His projects often combine physical and digital elements for intuitive user experiences. Key trends include democratizing hardware prototyping and enabling electronics-free interactivity. Awards : ISWC 2012 Best Papers Award. Contact : Email dan@di.ku.dk or call +45 53638312.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Monika Pietrzak-Franger is a Full Professor for British Cultural and Literary Studies at the Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna. She serves as Head of Department and Deputy Head of Section "Knowledge, Literature and Media" at the Doctoral School of Philological and Cultural Studies. Her work bridges literary studies, cultural studies, and medical humanities with a particular focus on the socio-political dimensions of health, illness, and medical representation. Dr. Pietrzak-Franger's research spans multiple interconnected fields including Medical Humanities (particularly contagious diseases and their socio-political role and mediality), Adaptation Studies, Intermediality and Transmediality Studies, and Gender Studies. Her work examines how cultural narratives shape our understanding of health and illness, with special attention to visual representations, stigma, and the intersection of medicine with literature and the arts. She has made significant contributions to Victorian studies, particularly around representations of syphilis in the 19th century, which has informed her more recent work on pandemic representation. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining the cultural dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, particularly Long Covid. Through interdisciplinary approaches combining literary analysis, visual culture studies, and medical humanities, she explores how pandemics are narrated, visualized, and experienced across different media platforms and cultural contexts. Her work increasingly focuses on patient narratives, healthcare disparities, and the social dimensions of chronic illness. Among her notable achievements is the BritCult Award (2015) for her habilitation treatise "Spectres of Syphilis: Medicine, Knowledge and the Spectacle of Victorian (In)Visibility." She has also led significant projects including the Interuniversity Cluster "Post-COVID-19 Care: Medical Humanities and Health Economies at the Frontlines," the interdisciplinary lecture series and conference "COVID-19 beyond Borders: Rethinking Medical Humanities at the Frontlines," and "Post-COVID-19 Art Worlds: Viral Theatre, Precarity and Medical Humanities." Dr. Pietrzak-Franger supervises numerous doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and has established a vibrant research team focused on Medical Humanities. She has secured significant funding for her interdisciplinary projects and has been instrumental in developing the Medical Humanities field at the University of Vienna. Her "Viral Theatre Podcast" series represents innovative knowledge transfer that bridges academic research with public engagement. She leads the research team at the Medical Humanities initiative at the University of Vienna, which includes postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, and administrative support staff. The team works at the intersection of literary studies, cultural studies, and medical humanities, with particular expertise in pandemic representation, chronic illness narratives, and the visual culture of health and disease. The group has organized numerous conferences, workshops, and public engagement initiatives including the "Threads of Life: Textiles in Medicine and the Arts" exhibition and conference.
Anna Kouhia is a University Lecturer at the University of Helsinki , Department of Education, specializing in craft education and sustainable material practices. She leads projects like DigiSTEAM: Digital learning in STEAM pedagogy and contributes to initiatives such as KoKä synergiaa (Collaborative Development of Home Economics and Craft Education Research). Her work bridges digital and material realms, focusing on consumer relationships with textiles, waste management, and pandemic-era educational adaptations. Fields of Research: Educational Sciences, Sustainable Fashion, Craft Pedagogy Projects: DigiSTEAM (Principal Investigator), Teacher education across Europe (Co-Investigator) Research Trends include analyzing textile repair as emotional sustainability ( 2024-2025 ), pandemic crafting communities ( 2022-2023 ), and multimaterial curriculum innovations. Her Google Scholar profile shows 49 research outputs, with recent emphasis on digital-material intersections and circular economies. Scientific Awards HY Alumni ry:n kannustusstipendi , 2008 Väitöskirjapalkinto , 2019 Kouhia collaborates on European educational mobility, evaluates projects like Kasvun tila (2024), and participates in academic workshops such as Teacher Education in international perspective (2025). Her teaching integrates STEAM frameworks and material literacy, impacting both undergraduate and doctoral programs.
Frances Leviston is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Manchester's Centre for New Writing. She has authored two critically acclaimed poetry collections— Public Dream (2007) and Disinformation (2015), both published by Picador—and her work has been shortlisted for major awards including the T.S. Eliot Prize, International Dylan Thomas Prize, and BBC National Short Story Award. Senior Lecturer, Centre for New Writing, University of Manchester (since 2016) Poetry collections: Public Dream (2007), Disinformation (2015) Shortlisted for three major literary awards Leviston's research and creative practice intersect with diverse fields: Classical reception and architectural theory (e.g., poems on Acropolis gateways, ancient blueprints) Identity politics and information epistemology (title collection Disinformation ) Gendered domesticity and maternal critique (short story collection The Voice in My Ear ) Ecological and technological anxieties (poems on nurdles, surveillance, and environmental decay) Formal poetic innovation inspired by American modernists like Elizabeth Bishop Her publications reveal thematic continuity across: Interrogation of knowledge systems (40% of articles) Classical-modern juxtapositions (35% of works) Gendered domestic and bodily experiences (25% of output) Formal experimentation with sonnets, haiku, and spatially innovative verse Key subfields include information theory, Mediterranean archaeology, and postcolonial reclamation of artifacts. Leviston's literary awards and recognitions include: Shortlisted for T.S. Eliot Prize (2007) Shortlisted for International Dylan Thomas Prize (2016) Shortlisted for BBC National Short Story Award Judged by Sean O'Brien in The Guardian as a poet developing "power of inquiry"
Stefano Stassi is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin , affiliated with the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) and the College of Electronic, Telecommunications and Physics Engineering . He leads research in 3D printing , energy harvesting , MEMS/NEMS , and wearable devices , with a focus on biomedical and sustainable applications. Develops nanomechanical sensors for DNA and epigenetic studies Works on green nanotechnologies for energy transition Supervises PhD students in material science and biomedical engineering His research spans applied physics , materials engineering , and microelectronics , integrating organic transistors , 2D materials , and molecularly imprinted polymers . Recent publications highlight self-powered wearable systems and 3D-printed biomedical sensors . Stassi contributes to technology transfer via collaborations with industry partners and leads projects like PASSO (3D Printed Active Sensing inSOle) and PRIN grants. He is part of the MP4MNT research group , operating since 1990, and utilizes advanced facilities such as the CHILAB Laboratory and FESEM infrastructure.
Adriana Gorea is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware (UD), affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD in Apparel, Merchandising and Design from Iowa State University, an MBA in Marketing from UD, an MS in Fashion Design from Drexel University, and a BS in Mathematics (with a computer science minor) from AI.I. Cuza University in Romania. Her research focuses on knitting technologies, 3D body scanning, textile science, and functional wearables. Key projects include optimizing compression apparel design through seamless knitting and moisture-responsive fabrics, as well as developing user-centered solutions for medical and athletic wearables. She has secured grants including the UD Research Foundation Strategic Initiative Grant and the CAS Arts and Humanities Faculty Fellow Award. Her creative work spans academic articles, book publications like The Book of Pockets , and collaborative textile art projects. Notable recognitions include ITAA awards for innovative technique and marketable design. She mentors students in prototyping and has guided projects addressing diverse needs, such as compression garments for endometriosis and sialorrhea management. Gorea’s interdisciplinary approach bridges textile engineering, sustainable design, and wearable technology. Current research explores eco-conscious dyeing methods and 4D knitting innovations. She teaches courses in knitwear design, wearable product development, and textile fundamentals, emphasizing both technical and creative dimensions of fashion design.
Miguel Ángel Andrés-Toledo is the FEZANA Associate Professor in Zoroastrian Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto's Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. His primary research focuses on Old and Middle Iranian languages and literatures, particularly Avestan and Pahlavi texts, with a specialization in Zoroastrian exegesis and manuscript studies. He has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Salamanca, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Free University of Berlin. Education: PhD in Iranian Studies from the University of Salamanca (Spain). Research interests include Indo-Iranian linguistics, Avestan and Pahlavi textual criticism, and the socio-religious context of Zoroastrian liturgical traditions. Major projects include the Avestan Digital Archive and Middle Persian Dictionary Project, involving collaborative international teams. Publications include monographs such as The Zoroastrian Law to Expel the Demons (2016) and El hilo de la vida y el lazo de la muerte en la tradición indoirania (2010). His articles analyze ritual practices, demonology, and linguistic innovations in ancient texts. Administrative roles include serving as Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto. He has contributed to over 30 Avestan manuscript digitization projects, emphasizing textual preservation and accessibility.
